Tag Archives: United States Naval Reserve

I’ll Be Home (Roscoe)

1 Reply

April 19, 1944 envelope

April 19, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Wed. Apr. 19, 1944

Dear Mother,

No letter again today. I’m just beginning to wonder if you are writing every day as you used to do, etc. I suspect the letters are getting crossed up in the mail and two will come tomorrow, at least I hope so.

Well, it’s all set. I’ll be home Sat. eve. I got the papers all filled out and in my pocket now so I’ll be there for supper but possibly you had better not wait too long as I’m not sure what time I’ll leave here. I’ll try something during the PM but may not get away until after working hours which would be 4:30 and that would get me there by 7:30-8:00.

Nothing much has been different today just the same old measles & mumps or rather German measles & mumps. We get rid of several each day and

April 19, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] get in several new ones each day just to keep things on an even basis.

It’s going to be a close run on the gas tickets but I think I’ll have enough to get the car back. That seems a dirty trick. Bring the car back to you with no tickets. Joe and I together can get a book for his car when he comes up and I’ll make him share a few tickets. When one gets a C card they want someone else to sign that he is riding with the C card owner. I didn’t have anyone else to sign for me and even if I had I couldn’t have signed for Joe – That must all sound very clear. I’ll explain more fully when I get home.

I’ll not write now until I see you again so lots of love, etc.,
Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/01/22/ill-be-home-roscoe/

Coming Home (Roscoe)

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April 18, 1944 envelope

April 18, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

4/18/44

Dear Mother,

No mail today – maybe it takes it longer to get here if you address it to the station but on second thought I guess it’s because it was Sunday when you would have written a letter which should come today so that probably solves the mystery of the missing letter. I mailed one on Sunday but I’m not sure that it leaves the base on Sun.

I had a talk with a fellow who has the rental of houses and he seems to think we will be able to get a house. He took my name & address, etc. I’ll keep looking otherwise myself however.

So far so good on my coming home this weekend. My plea is in to the commanding officer and I believe it will go thru from the way the assistant executive officer talked. If one lives more than 75 miles he has to put in for leave so that in case an accident

April 18, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] or some such he will be legally covered. Then when the leave is over the paper is destroyed so that the leave isn’t counted against you in Washington. Just an old Navy custom.

We had a medical meeting at the base so I just stayed and ate there and it is now after 10 PM. It was a lecture by some Chicago Dr. on infections of the hand. It is one of those you must attend things so I went.

Yesterday I got a letter telling me I hadn’t done my correspondence work in the past two years and a little not was added to the bottom saying this is the second warning. I’ll have to drop in and give them the glad hand or something.

Well, it’s bed time so I must stop and see what I can do about some shut eye
Love Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/01/20/coming-home-roscoe/

Nothing New (Lentz)

1 Reply

V-mail, dated March 15, 1944

Letter transcription:

From:
E.T. Lentz
Comdr. (mc) USNR
Navy 133 BH4
FPO San Francisco Calif.
Mar. 15, 44

To:
Lt. R.S. Yegerlehner (MC) U.S.N.R.
Kentland
Indiana

Hello Junior – Nothing new in medical staff, still intact except three promotions – Andy, Cath & myself as you can see by return address.

Well – by today you should have arrived and I imagine it was a momentous day when you set foot on U.S. continent. We were all thinking about you and several of us have gone so far as to say we miss “Yegie.” Maybe, I’ll be seeing you soon.

Your laundry was sent as promised and you should get it by ’45.

My extracurricular activities have not been deterred, am playing golf as much as ever but not better. Received 18 golf balls (12 were reprocessed – just like new).

Write when you can –
Regards,
Ed

John W. made it
Porterfield also
See Alnav

[Editor’s note: ALNAV was a bulk communication and messaging system used by the Navy, a form of which is still in use today.]

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/01/19/nothing-new-lentz/

Movements (Roscoe)

1 Reply

April 17, 1944 envelope

April 17, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

4/17/44

Dear Mother,

Your letter arrived today. The one you wrote after receiving my first. I’ve been away from home now 4 days and received fou two letters – much different than in days gone by.

You mentioned the radio – It would be very nice but I wouldn’t want to deprive you of the one you use in the kitchen, however, if you think you could get along without it I’d appreciate it very much but we will see about that later. Maybe Joe has one he will bring along.

Our movements are somewhat curtailed around the base. Once we enter that gate where we entered we can’t leave without the executive officer’s permission and you remember the bridge going over to the Officer’s Club? We can’t cross that without the executive officers knowing it, etc. We can’t smoke

April 17, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] on the streets of the base so you see we are a bunch of good little boys at times. After 4:30, however, all those restrictions are off. We eat in the basement of that brick building where Joe & I went in for information so there is no real need for crossing the bridge or leaving the gate during working hours.

I loaned one of my white cap covers to a Dr. yesterday. He had sent all of his to the laundry and got bawled out for wearing his blue cover. He was one of the fellows that was with me at Silverstream, a Jewish boy.

The Frenches have a large library and I have borrowed a book “Our Hearts Were Young & Gay” to read. I think I read the condensed version in Reader’s Digest but for want of something to do I think I’ll read the thing. It may seem

April 17, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] a little dull after reading that in the Digest but I’ll see.

The sun was out most of the time today but it sure was cold when the breeze of the lake could hit full blast. We should get that breeze most of the time next summer when it’s good and hot.

John’s report card sounded pretty good and Mark’s wasn’t so bad as I remember so I guess the boys should both get promoted this year.

Well, I’m all run down so good night &
Love Daddy

Great Lakes Naval Base Building 1 (photograph by Goldnpuppy, Wikipedia Creative Commons license)

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/01/17/movements-roscoe/

My Duties (Roscoe)

1 Reply

April 16, 1944 envelope

April 16, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

USN Hospital
Great Lakes
Illinois
Apr. 16, 1944

Dear Mother,

Sunday almost gone and it was a long day for somehow things just seemed dull and my intern had O.D. duty so he wasn’t around after 1000 so I had to amuse myself.

Maybe I haven’t told you what my duties are – well it’s like this – I have two wards, one composed of about 30-40 German measles and 10 chicken pox cases and the other about that many mumps. Seems a little drab on the face of the whole thing but there are always ears becoming infected – pneumonia with the measles and many complications just like in private practice so it’s really more like medicine than anything I’ve had since coming into the Navy. I hope I’ve had both of the above diseases because I’ve had many exposures. There are also a few cases of regular measles so I should know what those look like after a

April 16, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] time.

In your today’s letter I had three money orders. I guess I can’t get away from repeating but I thought I’d just let you know in case the letter should get lost.

This Eve. The Frenches invited us to sandwiches, salad, etc., so I didn’t have to go out for an evening meal. They seem to be very nice people and are willing to make one as comfortable as possible. They have three huge cats and one has two kittens but I don’t cross their path too often. I mean the cats.

The sun finally broke thru today after a light rain this AM and a snow about noon but it still wasn’t very warm. In fact much too cold to think of wearing khaki uniforms, and the top coat really feels good. The breeze off the lake is very cold. I don’t know if you noticed but where we parked the car that day we were here

April 16, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] is only a very short distance from the lake. When one is on the other side of that building he can almost spit in the lake.

As I told you we have no shower so it’s tub bath and I do hate to draw the water, etc., but I feel I just have to tonight for I’ve missed the past two and since there is only the one other fellow I feel I don’t have to be as peculiar as you said you would be.

Maybe I’ll be able to spend next weekend at home but I’m not banking too much until I ask all the ones concerned. At least maybe a short time Sat. night and Sun. AM depending upon what time Joe wants to come back.

Well, I must take that bath and get to bed –
Love Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/01/15/my-duties-roscoe/ ‎

Twenty Some Letters (Roscoe)

1 Reply

April 15, 1944 envelope

April 15, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

USN Hospital
Great Lakes, Ill.
Apr. 15, 1943

Dear Mother,

Today’s mail was like the days of the past 20 some letters – most of which were from you – yours dating from Feb. 5 to Feb. 26. One from Wayne W., one from Mark, one from the Brewers, a Christmas greeting from Geo. Wingfield and Dave’s Christmas package. It was in a mess. There was three suits of knit underware, a pipe, a book of thoughts, some candy tobacco, pipe cleaners, stationary, etc. Most of the things were spoiled. The book was OK, the pipe OK, the underware damp & moldy, the candy – you can use your imagination.

I got paid today – $355.00. I’m sending you $250. That did not include the travel money but I understand it takes several days for that to be calculated so will send it later. Our

Our uniform may not be khaki so as soon as it warms up a bit I’ll stop wearing the blue and for the time

April 15, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] will save the price of another blue.

It has been cold and rainy here all day long. This place is large and one has to do lots of walking in the rain.

I think I can arrange to come home next Sat. At least I’m working on that angle. I’m covering for another Dr. tomorrow and he is to take over for me next Sun., if some big Gold don’t enter into the picture. I’ll write more of that later. That of course would be Sat. eve after 4:30 unless I left a little early.

I read all your letters but you had told me everything. I was glad to get the pictures of the snow. The picture of the boys in the back yard were very good I thought. Your letter written Thurs. & Fri. came also today. It was so recent compared to the others.

It’s now 10:00 PM and time for bed. It took me three hours to read all the mail/
So goodnight and Love
Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/01/13/twenty-some-letters-roscoe/ ‎

The Above Address (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: April 14, 1944 envelope (front)

: April 14, 1944 envelope (back)

April 14, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

USN Hospital
Great Lakes
Illinois

Dear Mother,

The above address is the correct one as I now have a mail box assigned and I’ll be able to get my mail there probably faster and more consistent than otherwise.

I think I’m about all settled now except the gas ration and that seems to be something. In the first place I need the tire certificate of registration and then that has to be sent into Chicago and Washington and then the card will be issued. By that time you will have the car back again. There is a possibility that I can get along without the tire business but I the may not even apply for the thing now. Chas. Largent gave me tickets for 10 gal. of gas and with what we have that would be enough to get the car back home and it seems there isn’t much trouble getting gas there. However, I’ll give it a

April 14, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] think. It isn’t hardly worth while asking you to send that registration because you can bring it when Joe comes up or I can get it if I come down. I’m going to start working on the coming down about tomorrow and after work tomorrow eve I’m planning on going house looking.

It was about 5 PM when I left the hospital this PM so thought I would see if I could find Socky. With his address I was able to get his Barrack number and I drove up in front and asked about where Wilson might be and was informed that he was at chow. I just sat in the car and along came Socky. When he saw me he yelled “Hi Doc.” The first part of his yell was very loud but it tapered off to a whisper and he walked up – stood at attention and saluted. Then when no one was looking we both laughed. His barrack is very near that first large building on the left as you approach the station. His hands were a bluish color from the dye in the clothes he had washed. He said they had to drill pretty hard today – running and sprinting around the drill field. He was very glad to see me – said he was homesick. All

April 14, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] in all he was very military. So much for Socky.

We got breakfast and lunch at the base – 25₵ per and it is checked from our pay. I guess we could get supper there but I haven’t tried as yet.

I’ll get paid some tomorrow but I won’t get the mileage until later. I’m not sure just how much I’ll be able to draw but will try to send some home.

Tomorrow is official day for white cap covers and I’m a little mixed up as to whether or not we can wear khaki. If not, I’ll have to buy another blue suit or grey whatever it might be but this I know I’m going slow on any buying of uniforms.

I think I’m in the whole house tonight by myself. I haven’t heard a sound and I’ve been here since 6:00 and it is now 9:00.

Since leaving home I’ve spent $1.17 – Two evening meals and 10₵ for a car badge – Haven’t even paid my room rent. She would not take it last night and she isn’t here tonight.

Well Dear – Love & goodnight
Daddy

New Duty (Roscoe)

5 Replies

April 13, 1944 envelope

April 13, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Naval Hospital
Great Lakes Illinois
Apr. 13, 1944

Dear Mother,

It is now 2030 and I’m about all set for the night. Had no trouble coming thru today and I’m pretty well signed in, etc. I’m not just certain what my duties will be but will find out definitely tomorrow. Needless to say I haven’t rented a house for the family as yet.

Someone had called the O.D. office about 15 minutes before I arrived inquiring if I had registered in and I’m at a loss to know who it was. I thought possibly it was Dr. Moran but he told me later he had not called – Maybe it was Socky but I doubt it very much. I may look him up tomorrow eve after I learn my way around a little better. My hours are from 0800 to 1630 so should have some time in the eve for things and

April 13, 1944, p, 2

[page 2] things. Dr. Moran says O.D. duty comes about once in every 15 days, and that requires staying on the base.

Mrs. Frence informed me the Col.’s wife moved in – Two girls, 3 guinea pigs and I believe she said a dog. Seems as if my 23 little men will have lots of competition and I was wrong we don’t use the same bath room. It’s two other men but at present there is only one so I have a semi private bath room.

I didn’t get to do anything with my pay accounts today because I have to have my orders and they had to be endorsed and it seems that couldn’t be done until tomorrow so I’ll see what can be done along that line and financially I’ll be at the end of the line if something isn’t done before too long. So far however I’ve only spent 51₵ since leaving home and that was for eve chow. Dr. Moran knew a little place between here and

April 13, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] the base where the food is good and the price reasonable.

I’m sorry I didn’t get this written early enough to mail tonite but I just don’t know my way around here well enough yet but will get on schedule in a day or two. The address at the beginning of the letter so far as I know is correct but that is one thing I’ll have to find out for sure tomorrow. You can address my mail that way until you hear differently from me.

It’s a little lonesome in here just now after the swell time of the past 3 weeks but maybe things will be better in the near full future.

I hope I can give you all the dope right out of the horse’s mouth tomorrow eve.
Solong
Love Daddy

Home Sweet Home (Roscoe)

3 Replies

Roscoe finally received his long awaited orders on March 22, 1944. He journeyed by train, arriving in Kentland, Indiana, on March 24th. He enjoyed about three week’s leave before he was required to report for duty at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital, on April 13th.

: March 22, 1944 orders, p. 1

: March 22, 1944 orders, p. 2

Obviously no letters were written during this time. However, Gladys made note of David’s first meeting with his father in the baby book.

March 23 – 1944
David is 18 months old – weighs 25 1/2 lbs – 33″ tall.
March 24 – Daddy came home and David saw him for the first time. David thinks Daddy is “OK.”
Cutting lower left and upper left first molars.
David is wearing thumg guards, but still puts his thumb in his mouth when he gets the guards off.
Apr. 9 – Easter Sunday and David’s Christening Day. Vic, Beulah & Carol Jean came for dinner and spent the afternoon with us. David found several Easter nests with the help of John and Mark.

Roscoe and David, March 1944

No Further News (Roscoe)

1 Reply

March 18, 1944 envelope

March 18, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Hotel Bellevue
Geary at Taylor
San Francisco
Mar. 18, 1944

Dear Mother –

Still no further news so it’s wait again for another day – hope this doesn’t keep up too long and I really think it will be, as I told you before, the first of the week before anything definite turns up.

It seems I’m having a little trouble drawing money I have on the books so if I write a check for transportation home and there isn’t enough to cover same have Teague honor the amount and I’ll take care of it then. Just telling you in case something like that does happen.

Of course if I get orders to some area place in the 9^th district my fare will be paid or at least I’ll be repaid after getting there. Hope that 9^th district deal

March 18, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] works out.

Jim is out today – went out to see a doctor friend of his who is stationed nearby so I’m just sitting around the hotel chewing my nails and waiting. In fact it’s almost 1200 and I’m writing this in the lobby and waiting also for the maid to get the room fixed up. She seems to be a lot later this morn. Maybe it’s the extra Sat. brush up that is causing the delay. I just walked over to pick up an ash tray and I saw the door was open so I guess the room is getting the once over.

I suppose by now some of your letters are returning. The last one I received from you was dated Feb. 11 so I’m not well informed on what is going on – not as well as I hope to be in the next few days.

Well, I’ll give you the red hot dope as soon as it comes out of the horse’s mouth.
Lots of Love
Daddy